The Anonymous history begins with a reference to the manuscript written by Bede. Saint Ceolfrith received the habit of holy religion and the palm of eternal happiness. The reference was probably added after Bede's death.

Paragraphs 1 - 10. The author claims that Christian do well to remember their leaders, including abbot Ceolfrith. He was born of noble and religious parents and practiced virtue from an early age. At 18, he became a monk at a monastery in Gilling (Yorkshire). Ceolfrith was devoutly received by his brother who ran the monastery, Cynefrith who would soon thereafter die of the plague. Ceolfrith then left to see Bishop Wilfred at his Ripon monastery. The bishop then chose him for the priesthood at twenty-seven.

Ceolfrith came to East Anglia to meet Abbot Botulf who was thought to be a...